Bending and forming attachment for vises



p 1967 G. B. STONE 3,342,057

BENDING AND FORMING ATTACHMENT FOR VISES Filed Dec. 7, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 26 m W i1 as /00 98' a4 Guthrie B. .Sfane' INVENTOK M4062. BY m Sept. 19, 1967 BENDING AND FORMING ATTACHMENT FOR VISES Filed Dec. 7, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2 ea

Guthrie B. .Sfone 22 INVENT OR.

BY "Mp/W MU,

G. B. STONE 3,342,057

United States Patent 3,342,057 BENDING AND FORMIgig ATTACHMENT FOR VI Guthrie B. Stone, Stone Conveyor Co., Inc., Honeoye, N.Y. 14471 Filed Dec. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 416,542 11 Claims. (Cl. 72-333) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vise attachment to enable the vise to be employed for general metal working such as in bending bars, rods, strip material, punching holes and the like. Similar procedures may be employed with non-metallic work, such as plastic or the like. The attachment includes a pair of die elements mounted on the movable jaws of the vise with the die elements being changeable either by re-orientation or interchangeability. A spring biased guide assembly interconnects the die elements for retaining them biased apart and in guided relationship to each other. An adjustable work abutment is provided on one of the dies for enabling the position of the work to be accurately controlled and to enable repetitive positioning of the work to be accomplished in an accurate manner.

The present invention generally relates to an attachment for use in combination with conventional bench vises and the like with the attachment being primarily concerned with bending bars, rods, strip material, U-bolts and the like for general metal working needs and an object of the present invention is to provide interchangeable die elements for use in forming, bending and punching with the dies being suitable for relatively light work in steel, plastics, non-ferrous metals and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bending attachment for vises that have bending dies orientated above the top surfaces of the vise jaws to permit bending of relatively long rods, bars and the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bender attachment for a bench vise having removable and universal female die elements suitable for both bending and punching and being pivotally mounted on a single axis to provide quick and easy positioning of the bending die or punching die.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an attachment for a vise having a die block with two or more positions in line with die openings to provide various die openings at the same axis.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment for vises having a female die as outlined above having slug clearance for punching with the clearance being provided by a horizontal hole or passage through the die block.

Yet another feature of the invention is to provide a die block having calibrations equidistant from the center line of the female die opening to provide dimensional setting.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a slidably adjustable and rotatable gauge bar with a suitable locking setscrew for repetitive bending or punching positions of the attachment for the device.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a bending and punching attachment for a vise having a spring assembly interposed between the jaws of the vise to retain the attachment in place on the vise and to effect jaw expansion when the device is opened.

Still another important feature of the present invention is the provision of an adjustable stop in a bending and punching attachment for vises to provide constant bend depth with there being locking means for the adjustable stop.

The present invention is also easy to use in association with a conventional bench vise, ultilitarian in operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numetals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention mounted between the jaws of a conventional bench vise;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the attachment of the present invention illustrating the relationship of component parts;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the attachment with a portion thereof broken away illustrating an adjustable stop screw;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view similar to FIGURE 3 but with the punching dies orientated in operative position with a portion of the female die broken away illustrating the slug clearance passage;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 5-5 of FIGURE 2 illustrating further structural details of the bending and punching attachment;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a strip of metal formed by the bending die element; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a strip of metal having a hole punched therein by the punch die.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the attachment of the present invention for mounting on a conventional bench vise 12 having the usual stationary jaw 14 and movable jaw 16 operated by a handle structure 18 and having an interconnecting guide member 20. The details of construction of the bench Vise form no part of the present invention and are illustrated for the purpose of disclosing the manner in which the attachment of the present invention is associated with the conventional bench vise 12.

The attachment 10 includes a pair of die blocks 22 and 24. The die block 22 has a projecting flange 26 defining a ledge which cooperates with the end surface of the block 22 for engaging the top edge and gripping surface of the jaw 14. The block 24 has a similar flange 28 projecting therefrom which engages the top surface of the jaw 16 and the end surface of the block 24 correspondingly engages the gripping surface of the jaw 16 thus positioning and orientating the attachment in relation to the jaws 14 and 16.

The block 22 is longer than the block 24 and includes a longitudinal bore 30 extending therethrough which slidably receives a projecting guide 32 that is rigidly aflixed to the block 20 and is slidably received within the bore 30. The guide 32 is in the form of a rod having a socket 34 formed in the end thereof and a socket 34 closely receives a coil compression spring 36 which has one end thereof engaging the inner end of the socket 34 and the other end thereof engaging a transversely or vertically extending pin 38 which extends diametrically of the bore 30 thus retaining the spring 36 in place and forming an abutment for the end thereof so that inward movement of the guide 32 will cause compression of the spring 36 and also guide the block 24 in relation to the block 22. The block 24 has a passage 40 therein which receives a reduced portion of the end of the guide rod 32 with the reduced portion forming a shoulder 42 abuttingly engaging the surface of the block 24 facing the block 22. The other surface of the block 24 is provided with a recess 44 forming a space for receiving an outwardly flared or peened over edge portion 46 which securely and rigidly afiixes the guide rod 32 to the block 24. The outwardly deformed flanges 46 are defined by a hollow central end portion 48' formed on the end of the guide rod 32. With this construction, the block 24 and the guide rod 32 are rigid with each other and the guide rod 32 is closely telescopically received in the bore 30 thus guiding the movement of the blocks in relation to each other and urging the blocks apart and against the gripping jaws 14 and 16 to retain the attachment in place on the vise and causes the blocks to move outwardly when the jaws 14 and 16 are moved apart and permits blocks to move toward each other when the jaws 14 and 16 are moved toward each other. This particular construction together with the flanges 26 and 28 serve to securely mount the attachment onto the conventional bench vise. If desired, the pin 38 may be removed for replacement of the spring if necessary and also, suitable lubrication means may be provided for lubricating the relatively movable surfaces between the guide 32 and the bore 30.

Mounted on top of the planar upper surface of the block 22 is a female die element 50 that is pivotally attached to the block 22 by a fastening bolt 52 which has a polygonal head 54 disposed above the planar top surface of the female die 50 for clampingly securing the female die 50 in desired orientation about the axis of the bolt 52 which is screw-threaded into an internally threaded bore 56 in the block 22. The over-all plan configuration of the female die element 50 is square and the die element is provided with die surfaces or faces 58, 60, 62 and 64 on the four sides of the female die element 50; The die surface 58 has one size and configuration female bending die formed therein at 66. The die surface 62 has a different female bending die 68 incorporated therein while the die surface 64 has yet another shape and configuration female die 70 formed therein. As illustrated, the bending die surfaces having the female die 66, 68 and 70 incorporated therein may have any particular shape and size female die formed therein as desired. The die surface 60 has a plurality of female hole dies 72' formed therein which extend through the side wall of the die surface 60 into a transverse or horizontal passageway 74 which provides for slug clearance and discharge. As illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the female die element 50 is provided with a plurality of bores 76 perpendicular to the bores or passageway 74 for receiving the retaining and pivot bolt 52. The longitudinal axis of each of the bores 76 is in alignment with the center of a corresponding female hole die so that the female die element 50 may be adjusted to a desired position in relation to a male die element described hereinafter.

One or more edges of the female die 50 is provided with scale graduations 78 that may be provided with suitable indicia for indicating dimensional relationships of the work to the die element. FIGURE 7 illustrates a strip of metal 80 having a hole 82 punched therein which may be formed when employing a male punch die 84 connected to and mounted on a male die element 86 that is attached to the block 24 by a securing bolt 88 having a polygonal head 90 engaging the top surface of the male die element 86 and adapted to receive a wrench in the same manner as the head 54 for tightening and loosening the male die element 86. The bolt 88 is screwthreaded into a threaded bore 92 in the block 24 and is received within a bore 94 in the male die element 86. The male punch die 84 will penetrate a strip of metal 88 placed in front of the surface 60 and proceed through the aligned female hole die and the slug will be discharged into the passageway 74. The male punch die 84 is received within a socket 96 and retained therein by a suitable setscrew 98 thus enabling interchangeability of the male punch dies 84 thereby enabling the size of the male punch die 84 to correspond with the size of the female hole die 72.

On the end of the male die element 86 remote from the male punch die 84, there is provided a male bending die 100 that has a bending surface 102 formed thereon generally corresponding to the configuration of the female dies 66, 68 and 70 for bending a strip of metal such as the strip 104 illustrated in FIGURE 6 where various angular bends 106 are formed in the strip of metal 100. By varying the configuration of the female die surfaces and male die surfaces, the particular configuration of the strip of material will be correspondingly altered. By loosening the bolt 88, the male die 86 may be removed and replaced with other similar male dies or it may be rotated end for end about a vertical axis and locked in place for use as either a bending die or as a hole punching die.

FIGURE 3 illustrates an adjustable stop screw 108 screw-threaded into an internally threaded socket 110 formed in the block 24 and communicating with the inner surface thereof and provided with a polygonal head 112 for engagement by a suitable wrench. A suitable lock nut 114 is placed on the threaded shank of the screw 108 thus locking the head 112 in adjusted position whereby it will form an abutment for engaging the facing surface of the block 22 thereby limiting the movement of the die elements toward each other thereby providing a consistent and constant bend depth when using the bending dies.

The block 22 is provided with a transverse bore 116 receiving an elongated gauging arm 118 having a reverse bend 120 at one end thereof and terminating in a ganging end 122 forming an abutment for the work positioned in front of the die surfaces 58, 60, 62 and 64 respectively with the abutment surface 122 orientated above the block 22 and in alignment with the longitudinal center line of the gauging surfaces as illustrated in FIGURE 1. A suitable setscrew may be provided for securing the gauging bar 118 in position and the particular construction of the gauging bar enables it to be pivoted downwardly so that the gauging end surface 122 may be out of the way, that is, located below the planar upper surface of the block 22. A portion of the abutment surface 122 may be at the outer corner thereof to facilitate the movement of the working stock or strip metal or other material into position against the die surface and also with the end thereof abutting the end of the abutment surface 122.

If desired, a spring type stripper punch may be employed to aid in punch removal from the hole 82 formed in the work 80.

Thus, with the present invention, a bench vise may be used for punching or bending work with the characteristics of the die elements being easily altered by interchanging die elements or pivoting the die elements about a vertical axis or in some instances shifting one of the die elements in relation to the other. The die elements and the blocks to which they are attached are guided and spring biased apart by the guide and spring construction and controlled depth bending is accomplished by using the stop screw 112 whereas repetitive bending may be easily accomplished by using the gauge bar gauging surface 122. The attachment of the present invention requires no modification whatsoever of the bench vise and is easily attached thereto and easily removed therefrom and the positioning of the die elements above the surface of the jaws of the bench vise enable long stock or work to be effectively associated with the die elements.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An attachment for vises having relatively movable jaws comprising a pair of blocks adapted to engage with the movable jaws and project thereabove, spring means interposed between said blocks for biasing the blocks apart, and a die element on each block orientated above the vise thereby permitting the bending of rods, bars and the like, at least one of said die elements is being rotatably mounted on one of the blocks, said one die element having different peripheral surface portions thereof provided with different forming characteristics thereby enabling various operations to be performed with one attachment.

2. An attachment for vises having relatively movable jaws comprising a pair of blocks adapted to engage with the movable jaws and project thereabove, spring means interposed between said blocks for biasing the blocks apart, and a die element on each block orientated above the vise thereby permitting the bending of rods, bars and the like, a telescopic guide means interconnecting the blocks below the die elements, said spring means being in the form of a coil compression spring disposed within said guide means.

3. An attachment for vises having relatively movable jaws comprising a pair of blocks adapted to engage with the movable jaw-s and project thereabove, spring means interposed between said blocks for biasing the blocks apart, and a die element on each block orientated above the vise thereby permitting the bending of rods, bars and the like, said die element on one of the blocks being a male punch die, the die element on the other block being a female die receiving the male punch die, said female die having an opening having a passage communicating with the opening receiving the male punch die to facilitate discharge of slugs.

4. An attachment for vises having relatively movable jaws comprising a pair of blocks adapted to engage with the movable jaws and project thereabove, spring means interposed between said blocks for biasing the blocks apart, and a die element on each block orientated above the vise thereby permitting the bending of rods, bars and the like, an adjustable abutment engageable by a workpiece inserted laterally between the die elements to enable repetitive positioning of the workpiece, said abutment being in the form of an elongated rod having one end thereof laterally offset and terminating in alignment with one of the die elements, and means on one of said blocks adjustably mounting said elongated rod thereon.

5. An attachment for vises having relatively movable jaws comprising a pair of blocks adapted to engage with the movable jaws and project thereabove, spring means interposed between said blocks for biasing the blocks apart, and a die element on each block orientated above the vise thereby permitting the bending of rods, bars and the like, means detachably and rotatably mounting said die elements on said blocks.

6. An attachment for vises having relatively movable jaws comprising a pair of blocks adapted to engage with the movable jaws and project thereabove, spring means interposed between said blocks for biasing the blocks apart, and a die element on each block orientated above the vise thereby permitting the bending of rods, bars and the like, and adjustable stop on one of said blocks for engaging the other block for limiting the inward movement thereof.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein one of said die elements is a male bending die and the other of said die elements is a female bending die.

8. The attachment for vises having relatively movable jaws comprising a pair of blocks adapted to engage with the movable jaws and project thereabove, spring means interposed between said blocks for biasing the blocks apart, and a die element on each block orientated above the vise thereby permitting the bending of rods, bars and the like, one of said die elements including a male punch die, said die element including a socket removably receiving the male punch die, and a set-screw means re taining the male punch die in the socket for enabling interchangeability thereof.

9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein the other of the die elements is a female punch die having a plurality of spaced female punch holes of different sizes therein, means mounting the female punch die adjustably for aligning selective of the female punch holes with the interchangeable male punch die for enabling different size holes to be punched in a workpiece with the attachment.

10. An attachment for vises having relatively movable jaws comprising a pair of die assemblies, each of said die assemblies including a depending jaw engaging member adapted to engage the movable jaws of the vise, spring means interposed between the die assemblies for biasing the die assemblies apart and retaining the jaw engaging members in engagement with the jaws of the vise during movement thereof, at least one of said die assemblies including a plurality of peripheral surface portions, each surface portion having a die face thereon for selective orientation in opposed relation to the other die assembly, means on said one die assembly to enable the die faces thereon to be selectively orientated above a vertical axis, and guide means interconnecting the die assemblies below the die faces for guiding relative movement between the die assemblies.

11. The structure as defined in claim 10 wherein each jaw engaging member includes a laterally extending ledge thereon adapted to engage the top edge of a vise jaw thereby orienting the die faces above the vise jaws, said guide means and spring being disposed below the horizontal plane of said ledges for positioning generally in alignment with the jaw vises.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,397,980 11/1921 Ouellette 72-475 1,989,087 1/1935 Eibert 72389 2,289,637 7/ 1942 Ernest 72477 2,363,931 11/1944 Beard 72412.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. L. A. LARSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ATTACHMENT FOR VISES HAVING RELATIVELY MOVABLE JAWS COMPRISING A PAIR OF BLOCKS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE WITH THE MOVABLE JAWS AND PROJECT THEREABOVE, SPRING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID BLOCKS FOR BIASING THE BLOCKS APART, AND A DIE ELEMENT ON EACH BLOCK ORIENTATED ABOVE THE VISE THEREBY PERMITTING THE BENDING OF RODS, BARS AND THE LIKE, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID DIE ELEMENTS IS BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON ONE OF THE BLOCKS SAID ONE DIE ELEMENT HAVING DIFFERENT PERIPHERAL SURFACE THEREOF PROVIDED WITH DIFFERENT FORMING CHARACTERISTICS THEREBY ENABLING VARIOUS OPERATIONS TO BE PERFORMED WITH ONE ATTACHMENT 